Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints Box Score on Dec 08, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 8, 2013

Saints 31, Panthers 13: Drew Brees threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns as host New Orleans snapped Carolina's eight-game winning streak and took over sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

Marques Colston had nine receptions for 125 yards - both season highs - and hauled in two scoring passes from Brees (30-of-42), who became the fifth quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 50,000 yards as the Saints (10-3) improved to 7-0 at home. Tight end Jimmy Graham also had two TD catches as New Orleans took a one-game lead over the Panthers (9-4), who host the Saints in two weeks.

Cam Newton threw for only 160 yards on 22-of-34 and was sacked five times as Carolina yielded a season-high point total and lost for the first time since a 22-6 setback at Arizona on Oct. 6. That also was the last game in which the Panthers, who entered the contest allowing a league-low average of 13.1 points, surrendered more than 20.

Carolina controlled the first quarter but was forced to settle for a pair of field goals by Graham Gano before New Orleans stormed back with 21 second-quarter points - putting up one more TD than Carolina had allowed in the opening half of its first 12 games combined. Brees capped an 80-yard drive with a 6-yard strike to Colston before connecting on scoring passes to Colston and Graham 2:26 apart for a 21-6 halftime advantage.

The Saints had first-and-goal inside the 1 late in the third quarter before coming away with only three points, but Brees directed an eight-play, 58-yard drive that he capped with an 8-yard scoring pass to Graham to make it 31-6 with 9:52 to play. The Panthers finally got in the end zone when Newton hit Steve Smith from 17 yards out on fourth-and-goal with 5:15 remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Brees also set a pair of league records, becoming the first QB to reach 30 touchdown passes in six consecutive seasons and surpassing 4,000 yards for the eighth year in a row. ... Smith had six catches for 49 yards, extending his franchise-record streak with at least one reception to 104 games. ... Colston became the first player in franchise history to surpass 8,000 career yards, and his 62 TD connections with Brees are the most of any active tandem in the league.